Effect of Preoperative Carbohydrate Loading on Perioperative Serum Lactate Levels in Patients Undergoing Donor Hepatectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Prolonged preoperative fasting induces peripheral insulin resistance, glycogen depletion, and a catabolic metabolic state that predisposes patients to anaerobic metabolism during major surgery. Donor hepatectomy is a physiologically demanding procedure associated with significant ischaemia-reperfusion stress and an inherent risk of perioperative lactate accumulation.

Preoperative carbohydrate loading has been proposed as a simple nutritional intervention to attenuate fasting-related metabolic stress by preserving glycogen stores and improving insulin sensitivity. However, its specific effect on serum lactate levels in living liver donors undergoing donor hepatectomy remains underexplored.

This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. Seventy adult patients aged 18-50 years scheduled for elective donor hepatectomy were enrolled and randomized into two equal groups. The intervention group received a standardized oral carbohydrate drink (maltodextrin solution) 2-4 hours before surgery, while the control group underwent standard preoperative fasting. Serum lactate levels were measured at five perioperative time points. Between-group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and temporal trends were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA.